NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lapeerian]

Hello everyone! Haven't been on in quite some time. Missed all the fun talks and pointers on how and when and why we keep these birds. Listed some birds for sale on CL and after speaking with a very nice woman, who also is on here

, I got back on and wanted to check in. As with what Rancher said a few posts ago, our birds have been numbering over 100 down to 25 or so. Right now my daughters, 16 and 12, are picking some breeds for this year to show. We just got a trio of black English Orpingtons for the 16 yr old and my little one is raising some Pyncheon bantams and a trio of Silver Sebrights we just picked up today. From a heated and quite lovely barn. So, guess where they are???? In my basement. Ugh. They are awfully cute... Anyway, here is to another year of friendly birds and friendly bird friends!

Off to sweep out the coop and maybe update my profile later.

Keep warm!

I still have the black orp hen that I got from you almost 4 years ago now! She was part of a BBS quad.

 

[baunlee]

I would say you can barrow my shepherd but he doesn't scare them away. He mounts them and we end up with fox pups.

LOL omg almost spit out my water.



@PhoredaBurds THank you for posting the pic of your watering system. Yesterday I had to replace my cracked red and white bottom and even at 20% off it was still $35. So I am thinking of switching to something like what you showed. I was curious if the chickens would really figure it out since they are incredibly stupid so it is good to hear your experience haha.

Everyone talking about heirloom seeds, it reminds me of the one year my sister and mother thought it would be a good idea to order 10 of every variety. Anyways the farmer must be selling them pretty cheap for the amount they purchased. They came a good size and in good condition. We grew them naturally and still had mountains of tomatoes. I can get more info if anyone wants, he's located in Clarence, NY.

I get a lot of seed catalogs in the mail but I never know if the prices are fair or not. One came today from BURGESS and i know they also have a website. I have been trying to find Bilberry (vaccinium myrtillus) if anyone hears of anywhere selling the plant. We have garlic scapes that grow here. Occasionally you will see them on sale at Wegmans for "like a lot" cant remember how much $$. I have a paper bag full of seeds somewhere around here..

Also a big fan of KALE because it lasts so far into the winter. Would love to try other cold hardy greens. I usually use them in smoothies and can go through several bags a week. Dinosaur kale is my favorite so far.

 

[Beer can]

@baunlee I've bought a lot of stuff through Burgees, trees, plants. Not the best of quality and small but you can't beat their prices. Don't recommend their seeds, kinda like those ten for dollar dollar store seeds just don't produce. I did do good with their climbing trip-l-crop tomatoes. Huge meaty tomatoes. Think they'd be great sauce matters, hardly any seed cavities. Only did good once and I try some every yr, even tried them hanging.

 

[lisa523]

What is chicken stock?

 

[boskelli1571]

What is chicken stock?

It a yearly gathering of 'chicken people' - there's a dish to pass, people bring chickens, plants seeds etc. to sell/exchange. It's really an informal get together. Always fun and you get to meet up with folks you have been chatting with online.

 

[Lapeerian]

@baunlee I've bought a lot of stuff through Burgees, trees, plants. Not the best of quality and small but you can't beat their prices. Don't recommend their seeds, kinda like those ten for dollar dollar store seeds just don't produce. I did do good with their climbing trip-l-crop tomatoes. Huge meaty tomatoes. Think they'd be great sauce matters, hardly any seed cavities. Only did good once and I try some every yr, even tried them hanging.

I get that catalog also, was wondering how they were. Looking at nut trees and blackberries.

My go-to has been Henry Fields and Burpee. Burpee is pricey, but there are a few varieties of seeds they carry that I prefer over Henry Fields. Tomatoes have been a failure for us every year due to late blight, but found a variety at a local greenhouse that survived last year. Defiant. And now Henry Fields carries the seeds, so going to try a few seeds this year.

First, I need to inventory what I have leftover from last year and toss everything older.

 

[rancher hicks]

I get that catalog also, was wondering how they were. Looking at nut trees and blackberries.

My go-to has been Henry Fields and Burpee. Burpee is pricey, but there are a few varieties of seeds they carry that I prefer over Henry Fields. Tomatoes have been a failure for us every year due to late blight, but found a variety at a local greenhouse that survived last year. Defiant. And now Henry Fields carries the seeds, so going to try a few seeds this year.

First, I need to inventory what I have leftover from last year and toss everything older.

I have used Burpee and I think you may be right. However I did grow their Italian Ice and they produced good and tasted good.

I tried the "Mortgage Lifter" and it sure didn't lift our mortgage. It didn't produce good, nor did the Brandywine.

I find that if I start my own plants they do better than if I buy them.

 

[tao chick]

I have a chicken science question. Both my males are white egg breeds and 2 of my female breeds are brown layers. Any idea if I will get brown or white layers from breeding?

It should result in a beige egg. Brown eggs are white shells with a "bloom" on them that turns them brown. With white and brown they usually result in a combination of the two colors. Blue eggs change the deal as the blue is the shell color. Green eggs are blue shells with a brown bloom.

I'm not an expert. This is just the brief synopsis as I understand it.

 

[rancher hicks]

Some one mentioned fox. Here's my method. I "mark" my territory. I also have stapled three pair of old jeans to three trees in the woods and "mark" those. I offer this solution for men households only.

I've not seen any tracks in a couple of years and the rabbits have started to come back.

If you need something more utilitarian try these jeans and just "mark" them. If you live in a non rural neighborhood have your hus. or son fill a jug and pour it on.

You don't smell it but the coyotes and foxes do. "Mark" occasionally and you should be fine. Also search for places foxes might den up and clear the area.

 

[Beer can]

@Lapeerian we've bought from Burgees, pear, plum, apples, asparagus, raspberry, blueberries, just got three hardy kiwi I don't think two were alive, and a goji that the roots fell off. If they don't come alive this spring I'm asking for replacements.
All other trees we have we got through Henry Feilds and Gurneys buy one get one free pretty much with their early deals. Blueberries we got from either Lowes or Home Depot were awesome.
I want to try nut trees also, ordering two hazlenuts from Burgees, I think there two for $5.
Early girl tomatoes have done awesome for us. Late blight killed all of them one yr. I use organic liquid copper fungicide now. I buy it concentrated enough for 50gals at Home Depot for the same price as one spray bottle, little bottle is not enough for the amount of plants we have. I use it sparingly, only when it's damp or not drying out good, and remove all dead or spotty leaves. Haven't lost any since I started using it.